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GIRLS HOCKEY: Chaska scores four power play goals to top Lumberjacks 6-2

Chaska’s Kylie Eklund, right smothered Bemidji’s Megan Dondelinger, center, as she crossed the blue line on a breakaway, drawing a penalty during first period action at the Bemidji Community Arena on Friday night. Monte Draper | Bemidji Pioneer

BEMIDJI – Chaska/Chanhassen capitalized on its power plays early and often to defeat the Bemidji girls hockey team 6-2 Friday night at the Bemidji Community Arena.

The Storm Hawks (3-3-1) scored four of its six goals on the power play.

Bemidji (0-4-4) got on the board first when Erin Booth deflected Allie Heifort’s slap shot into the net for a power play goal.

“It was great. It was just how we drew it up,” Bemidji head coach Bob Brink said of the goal. “The girls did a great job setting it up and moving the puck the way we wanted to.”

Heifort and Karlee Tower were given assists on the play.

However, the Lumberjacks held their lead for just over seven minutes. Lydia Passolt’s power play goal tied the game at one.

Less than a minute later, Kaitlin Storo broke away and fired a shot past Bemidji goaltender Leighton Rockensock to give the Storm Hawks their first lead of the night.

Passolt and Megan O’Brien added goals late in the period to build a 4-1 lead at the end of one.

“Especially in the first period, you can get behind the eight-ball pretty quick when you are in the box as much as we were tonight,” Brink said. “You obviously do not like to do it, but tonight was just a sloppy game on our part. The girls are fighting hard for that first victory and sometimes it just gets away from us.”

After over ten scoreless minutes to start the second period, Emma Silkey and Storo each added a power play goal late in the period to give the Storm Hawks a comfortable 6-1 lead after two periods of play.

The Lumberjacks controlled the puck and outshot the Storm Hawks for most of the third period, but until the final 20 seconds, had nothing to show for it.

“The third period was the kind of hockey that we want to see in all three periods,” Brink said. “The game against Sartell has been the only one where we have played three sound periods on offense and defense.”

Karleigh Wolkerstorfer was denied twice by Chaska goaltender Bailey Jackson, but Sylvia Grimm followed and found the back of the net to score with just 13 seconds left.

Wolkerstorfer was credited with an assist on the goal.

Jackson made 20 saves on the night for the Storm Hawks.

Rockensock turned away 23 shots.

The loss is the fourth in the last four games for the Lumberjacks, after starting the season with three straight ties.

Brink says being able to piece together three periods of consistent play will be key in getting the team’s first win.

“Fifty-one minutes,” Brink said. “That is what we are going to need to get that first win and get some momentum on our side.”

Bemidji (0-4-4) will look to get into the win column Thursday when it hosts Grand Rapids-Greenway at 7:30.